The Vampire Gift 2: Kingdom of(83)

Being underground, these dungeons were the safest place for visiting vampires to sleep without fear of being burned by the sun.

And now, after all these years, she seems to have found use for them again.

I look around at the coffins lying on the floor. They are all filled with gold and jewelry and precious gemstones. As payment from the Wyvern coven for letting them in.

When Beatrice first told me of the plan to smuggle me in, I was incredulous. I would never believe that Mother would be so careless as to openly welcome vampires from another coven in, especially not after what I heard about her reinforcing the wards and blocking access in or out.

But the delegation’s entry was the one moment the wards would be relinquished. It was my only chance.

Of course, any Haven guard worth his salt would sense a vampire as powerful as me hiding in one of the coffins. That’s why Riyu cast a concealment spell that camouflaged my powers.

I stretch my neck from side to side and roll my shoulders. Four days of being confined inside that coffin have made every muscle in my body extraordinarily stiff. The effects of Riyu’s spell make it worse. It feel like I have a wet suit three sizes too small wrapped around my body. There’s not a part of me that doesn’t feel the tightness.

But if this grants me freedom, and proves my loyalty to Father… who am I to complain?

After all, Father is the only vampire I’ve ever recognized to share my ideals about the world. He wants our kind to rise to power. He wants vampires to have dominion over humans because we are greater than men.

The trick, of course, is getting him to see I share the same sentiment.

I do another cursory scan of my surroundings. Nobody is even remotely nearby. Beatrice promised she would have somebody help me once I arrived—a mole on the inside—but I doubted that possibility very much.

Seems like I was wrong.

It makes me all the more curious about the woman. She is ruthless, yet tactful. She is everything Mother wishes to be, but is not.

It only makes sense that Father would align himself with one such as her.

With one last, final push, I shove the slab all the way off, and rise to my full height.

“My, but how good it feels to be back,” I say to no one in particular. A crude smile forms on my face. “Mother, you have no idea what you have coming.”

I creep toward the door and crack it open. I’m pleased to find it unlocked. Whoever was charged with arranging my arrival did a superb job.

I creep up the hallway toward the hidden entrance to the castle. Riyu’s spell is uncomfortable, but it gives me a rare advantage. I can sense other vampires—they cannot sense me.

For all intents and purposes, I am like a ghost stalking the halls.

I touch the amulet on my chest. The torrial is my one existing link to The Ancient and to Father. Even with the wards up, I was assured it would allow telepathic communication, just as before.

My new goal is simple. Find Mother’s staff and retrieve it. Present it to Father. Fall into his good graces, and, if all goes according to plan, be gifted a drop of The Ancient’s blood.

My mouth salivates at the prospect. If I had my own strength augmented by what The Ancient could give… why, I’d rival Eleira in might. I might even rival Father.

Prove yourself, first, I think.

The whole castle is abandoned. I remember snatches of conversation I heard while in the coffin. There was to be a great welcoming feast tonight. I guess that’s where everyone is.

I suspect it’ll take days of stalking The Haven before I find the staff. I don’t know if Mother carries it on her at all times. That would make my job more difficult, but not impossible.

If only I had a visible ally here…

Then it strikes me. Victoria! She is still in The Haven, likely still a prisoner. The little blonde spitfire would be someone I can definitely count on to have my back.

Especially if I rescue her.

I change paths and start for the holding cell reserved for the usual prisoners and dissenters. Halfway there, I stop.

Mother wouldn’t put Victoria below ground. She’d want her close at hand, somewhere she could extract information from her.

She’d keep her in the silver cells.

I run up through the castle, taking the stairs three at a time to the uppermost level. The haunting portraits on the walls seem to follow me with their eyes. I ignore the uncanny chill that they send down my spine.

Finally I reach my destination. I pull open the doors leading to the five silver cells. Their entrances are spread in a circular pattern around a small lobby.

To my surprise, two of the doors are closed. That means Mother has two prisoners.

I frown. In all the time I’ve lived here, there’s only been one instance that warranted a prisoner being held here. And currently Mother is holding two?